Strawberry plant named ‘DrisStrawEightyFive’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of strawberry plant named ‘DrisStrawEightyFive’, particularly selected for its compact plant habit, good fruit quality and flavor, and early yields, is disclosed.

Latin name:

Botanical classification: Fragaria x ananassa.

Varietal denomination: The varietal denomination of the claimed variety of strawberry plant is ‘DrisStrawEightyFive’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Cultivated strawberry is a hybrid species of the genus Fragaria that is grown worldwide for its fruit. Modern strawberry was first bred in Brittany, France, in the 18^(th) century by crossing Fragaria virginiana with Fragaria chiloensis. Strawberry fruit is an aggregate accessory fruit, with the fleshy part of the fruit being derived from the receptacle that holds the ovaries.

Strawberry varieties vary widely in color, size, shape, flavor, season of ripening, degree of fertility, and susceptibility to disease. Certain varieties vary in foliage, and some vary in the relative development of their reproductive organs. Typically, strawberry flowers appear hermaphroditic in structure, but function as either male or female. Generally, commercial production of strawberry plants involves propagation from runners and distribution as either plugs or bare root plants. Cultivation is either perennial or annual plasticulture. During the off season, strawberries can also be produced in greenhouses.

Strawberry fruit is widely appreciated for its characteristic bright red color, aroma, juicy texture, and sweetness. Strawberry fruit is a popular fruit that is generally consumed either fresh or in prepared foods, such as preserves and baked goods.

Strawberry is an important and valuable fruit crop. Accordingly, there is a need for new varieties of strawberry plants. In particular, there is a need for improved varieties of strawberry plant that are stable, high yielding, and agronomically sound.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In order to meet these needs, the present invention is directed to an improved variety of strawberry plant. In particular, the invention relates to a new and distinct variety of strawberry plant (Fragaria x ananassa), which has been denominated as ‘DrisStrawEightyFive’.

Strawberry plant variety ‘DrisStrawEightyFive’ originated from a controlled cross between the proprietary female parent ‘93T154’ (unpatented) and the proprietary male parent ‘93T154’ (unpatented). More specifically, pollen from a plant of selection ‘93T154’ was used to fertilize a plant of selection ‘93T154’, and the present variety originated from this controlled cross. Progeny plants from this cross of ‘93T154’ x ‘93T154’, including ‘DrisStrawEightyFive’, were asexually propagated via stolons in Shasta County, Calif. in September of 2013. Strawberry plant variety ‘DrisStrawEightyFive’ was later specifically identified and selected in Ventura County, Calif. in October of 2014.

‘DrisStrawEightyFive’ was subsequently asexually propagated via stolons, and has undergone testing at test plots in Ventura County, Calif. for six years (2014 to 2020). The present variety has been found to be stable and reproduce true to type through successive asexual propagations via stolons and tissue culture.

‘DrisStrawEightyFive’ was particularly selected for its compact plant habit, good fruit quality and flavor, and early yields.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

This new strawberry plant is illustrated by the accompanying photographs. The colors shown are as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures. Unless otherwise indicated, the photographs are of plants that are twenty-five weeks old.

FIG. 1 illustrates whole fruit of variety ‘DrisStrawEightyFive’.

FIG. 2 illustrates longitudinal sections of fruit of variety ‘DrisStrawEightyFive’.

FIG. 3 illustrates the upper surface (top row) and lower surface (bottom row) of flowers of variety ‘DrisStrawEightyFive’.

FIG. 4 illustrates the upper surface (top) and lower surface (bottom) of leaves of variety ‘DrisStrawEightyFive’.

FIG. 5 illustrates a whole plant of variety ‘DrisStrawEightyFive’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following detailed descriptions set forth the distinctive characteristics of ‘DrisStrawEightyFive’. The data which define these characteristics is based on observations taken in Ventura County, Calif. from 2014 to 2020. This description is in accordance with UPOV terminology. Color designations, color descriptions, and other phenotypical descriptions may deviate from the stated values and descriptions depending upon variation in environmental, seasonal, climatic, and cultural conditions. ‘DrisStrawEightyFive’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The botanical description of ‘DrisStrawEightyFive’ was taken from plants that were twenty-five weeks old. The indicated values represent averages calculated from measurements of several plants. Color references are primarily to The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London (R.H.S.) (2015 edition). Descriptive terminology follows the Plant Identification Terminology, An Illustrated Glossary, 2^(nd) edition by James G. Harris and Melinda Woolf Harris, unless where otherwise defined.

-   Classification:     -   -   Species.—Fragaria x ananassa.         -   Common name.—Strawberry.         -   Denomination.—‘DrisStrawEightyFive’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female parent.—Proprietary strawberry plant ‘93T154’             (unpatented).         -   Male parent.—Proprietary strawberry plant ‘93T154’             (unpatented). -   Plant:     -   -   Height.—22.3 cm.         -   Diameter.—33.4 cm.         -   Number of crowns per plant.—4.5.         -   Growth habit.—Upright.         -   Density of foliage.—Medium.         -   Vigor.—Medium.         -   Stolon.—Number of daughter plants per square foot: 3.             Diameter at bract: 3.7 mm. Length: 57 cm. Color: RHS 144A             (Strong yellow green). Anthocyanin coloration: Medium.             Anthocyanin color: RHS 58A (Moderate purplish red). Density             of pubescence: Medium. -   Leaf:     -   -   Number of leaflets.—Three only.         -   Color of leaf upper surface.—RHS NN137A (Greyish olive             green).         -   Color of leaf lower surface.—RHS 138B (Moderate yellow             green).         -   Blistering.—Absent or weak.         -   Glossiness.—Medium.         -   Variegation.—Absent.         -   Vein color.—RHS 138B (Moderate yellow green).         -   Veination pattern.—Pinnate and conspicuous.         -   Leaf texture.—Medium rough.         -   Terminal leaflet.—Length: 7.5 cm. Width: 6.75 cm.             Length/width ratio: 1.11. Number of teeth per terminal             leaflet: 20. Shape of base: Acute. Margin: Serrate to             crenate. Shape in cross section: Concave.         -   Petiole.—Length: 14.65 cm. Diameter: 3.6 mm. Color: RHS 143B             (Strong yellow green). Attitude of hairs: Horizontal. Bract             frequency (number present on each petiole): 0.         -   Petiolule.—Length: 5.92 mm. Diameter: 1.97 mm. Color: RHS             143B (Strong yellow green).         -   Stipule.—Length: 3.5 cm. Width: 19.37 mm. Pubescence: Light.             Color: RHS 143B (Strong yellow green). Anthocyanin             coloration: Medium. Anthocyanin color: RHS 50A (Strong red). -   Inflorescence:     -   -   Number of flowers per plant.—16.2.         -   Position of inflorescence in relation to foliage.—Above.         -   Pedicel.—Length: 22.8 mm. Attitude of hairs: Slightly             outwards. Color: RHS 144B (Strong yellow green).         -   Peduncle.—Diameter: 2.69 mm.         -   Flower bud.—Length: 14.16 mm. Width: 8.08 mm. Shape: Cup.             Color: RHS 145B (Light yellow green).         -   Flower.—Flower diameter (petal tip to petal tip on             non-flattened flower): 23.25 mm. Arrangement of petals:             Overlapping. Size of calyx in relation to corolla: Larger.             Stamen: Present.         -   Petal.—Length: 11.21 mm. Width: 12.33 mm. Length/width             ratio: 0.91. Number of petal per flower: 6. Color of upper             side: RHS 155C (Greenish White). Color of lower side: RHS             155B (Greenish White).         -   Calyx.—Diameter (sepal tip to sepal tip, measured on back of             flower): 42.92 mm. Color: RHS 138C (Moderate yellow green).         -   Sepal.—Length: 18.81 mm. Width: 8.88 mm. Number of sepals             per flower: 10.5. Color: RHS 138B (Moderate yellow green).             Texture: Medium rough.         -   Stigma.—Length: 1.3 mm. Width: 0.23 mm. Shape: Rounded.             Color: RHS 144B (Strong yellow green).         -   Style.—Length: 0.2 mm. Width: 0.16 mm. Shape: Tubular.             Color: RHS 144B (Strong yellow green).         -   Ovary.—Length: 9.11 mm. Width: 8.1 mm. Color: RHS 144B             (Strong yellow green).         -   Stamen.—Length: 3.53 mm. Width: 0.68 mm. Number of stamen             per flower: 30.2. Color: RHS 144B (Strong yellow green).         -   Anther.—Length: 1.94 mm. Width: 0.89 mm. Shape: Lanceolate             to elliptic. Color: RHS 13A (Vivid yellow).         -   Pollen.—Color: RHS 13A (Vivid yellow).         -   Flowering.—Flowering interval: November to May. -   Fruit:     -   -   Fruit size.—Length: 41.44 mm. Width: 40.21 mm. Length/width             ratio: 1.03.         -   Fruit hollow.—Length: 23.78 mm. Width: 19.55 mm.             Length/width ratio: 1.22.         -   Shape.—Cordate.         -   Difference in shape of terminal and other fruits.—None or             very slight.         -   Fruit color.—RHS N45A (Moderate red).         -   Evenness of color.—Even or very slightly uneven.         -   Glossiness.—Medium.         -   Evenness of surface.—Even or very slightly uneven.         -   Width of band without achenes.—Absent or very narrow.         -   Position of achenes.—Level with surface.         -   Achenes.—Length: 1.42 mm. Width: 0.72 mm. Shape: Elliptical.             Number of achenes per fruit: 340. Total weight of achenes             per fruit: 182 mg. Color: RHS N199C (Moderate yellow brown).         -   Position of calyx attachment.—Level with fruit.         -   Attitude of sepals.—Upwards.         -   Diameter of calyx in relation to diameter of fruit.—Much             larger.         -   Adherence of calyx.—Very strong.         -   Firmness.—Firm.         -   Color of flesh (excluding core).—RHS 44B (Vivid reddish             orange).         -   Color of core.—RHS 50B (Deep pink).         -   Fruit weight.—29.1 g.         -   Soluble solids (in ° brix).—8.7%.         -   Fruiting.—Harvest interval: December to June. Type of             bearing: Not remontant. Productivity: 4,416 kg to 7,829 kg             of fruit per acre per season from five-month-old plants when             grown in Ventura County, Calif. Market use of fruit: Fresh             and processing markets. Shipping and storage             characteristics: Following harvest, fruit can be stored for             9 to 11 days if maintained under cooled temperatures that             are standard for strawberry storage. -   Resistance to abiotic stress, pests, and diseases:     -   -   Cold.—Moderately resistant.         -   Strawberry aphid (chaetosiphon fragaefolii).—Moderately             resistant.         -   Two-spotted spider mite (tetranychus urticae).—Moderately             resistant.         -   Botrytis fruit rot (botrytis cinerea).—Moderately             susceptible.         -   Powdery mildew (podosphaera macularis).—Moderately             susceptible.         -   Anthracnose crown rot (colletotrichum acutatum).—Moderately             resistant.         -   Verticillium dahliae.—Moderately resistant.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL AND REFERENCE VARIETIES

Both the male and female parent of ‘DrisStrawEightyFive’ is the proprietary strawberry selection ‘93T154’. ‘DrisStrawEightyFive’ differs from ‘93T154’ in that ‘DrisStrawEightyFive’ has more flavorful fruit, better fruit quality, and earlier production yields than ‘93T154’.

‘DrisStrawEightyFive’ differs from the reference variety ‘DrisStrawTwentySeven’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 23,400) in that ‘DrisStrawEightyFive’ has a upright growth habit, medium anthocyanin coloration on stolon, a cordate shaped fruit, and level with surface position of achenes on fruit, whereas ‘DrisStrawTwentySeven’ has a spreading (flat globose) growth habit, strong anthocyanin coloration on stolon, a conical shaped fruit, and below surface position of achenes on fruit.

‘DrisStrawEightyFive’ differs from the reference variety ‘DrisStrawThirtySix’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 25,698), in that ‘DrisStrawEightyFive’ has medium plant vigor, medium anthocyanin coloration on stipule, medium fruit glossiness, and level with surface position of achenes on fruit, whereas ‘DrisStrawThirtySix’ has very strong plant vigor, absent or very weak anthocyanin coloration on stipule, strong fruit glossiness, and below surface position of achenes on fruit. 

We claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of strawberry plant named ‘DrisStrawEightyFive’ as shown and described herein. 